J.D. Power and Associates has completed its 2009 Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study, and the results are in. In their research, J.D. Power & Associates measures the overall satisfaction of motorcyclists with their new helmet in three key factors:
- ventilation
- face shield
- design and styling
These three factors are then marked into 11 attributes:
- quietness
- ventilation/air flow
- de-fogging
- the face shield’s ability to keep the wind out
- the face shield’s ability to resist scratching
- ease of replacing the face shield
- scratch resistance of the shell
- color/graphic design
- weight
- ease of fastening the strap
- fit and comfort.
Continue reading after the jump for the results.
Motorcycle helmet manufacturer Arai has come out on top in this study for the 11th consecutive year.
With a score of 830 on a 1,000-point scale, Arai ranked highest and performed particularly well in the ventilation and design and styling factors. Shoei followed in second place with a score of 815 and performed well in the face shield parameters. Icon ranked third overall, with a score of 806.
“Arai continues to improve in the areas critical to customer satisfaction, which has further differentiated it from other manufacturers,” says Tim Fox, research manager of the powersports practice at J.D. Power and Associates. “Arai’s focus on fit and comfort – the most important consideration when purchasing a motorcycle helmet – and its ability to cater to different types of riders have given the manufacturer a consistent edge in satisfying customers.”
Overall satisfaction with motorcycle helmets has increased to an average of 766 in 2009 – up 5 points from 2008 – the highest level since the study’s inception in 1999. The study finds that while the percentage of helmet owners who conducted research online before buying has remained relatively steady from 2008 at 36 percent, the proportion of helmet owners who purchased their helmet online has increased – up to 17 percent in 2009 from 14 percent in 2008. Additionally, those who purchased more expensive helmets ($200 or more) are more likely to both research and purchase their helmet online. More than 50 percent of these helmet owners researched online, prior to their purchase, and 22 percent of them made their purchase online. These trends are very likely the reason Arai went back on their online sales boycot last year.
The 2009 Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study is based on responses from more than 4,600 purchasers of new 2008 model-year motorcycles who provided information about their most recent helmet purchase experience and helmet use. The study was fielded in September and October 2008.
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